Foreign relations of Sierra Leone

Template:Short description Template:Sidebar with collapsible lists Sierra Leone maintains formal relations with many Western nations. It also maintains diplomatic relations with the former Soviet Bloc countries as well as with the People's Republic of China.

The government maintains 16 embassies and high commissions around the world.

Multilateral membership

Former President Stevens' government had sought closer relations with West African countries under the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). The present government is continuing this effort.

Sierra Leone is a member of the United Nations and its specialized agencies, the Commonwealth, the African Union, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the African Development Bank (AFDB), the Mano River Union (MRU), the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), and the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM).

Sierra Leone is also a member of the International Criminal Court with a Bilateral Immunity Agreement of protection for the US-military (as covered under Article 98).

Sierra Leone is a member state of the Commonwealth of Nations.

Diplomatic relations

List of countries which Sierra Leone maintains diplomatic relations with:

File:Diplomatic relations of Sierra Leone.svg
#	Country	Date
1	Canada	Template:Dts
2	Egypt	Template:Dts
3	France	Template:Dts
4	Ghana	Template:Dts
5	Israel	Template:Dts
6	Japan	Template:Dts
7	Lebanon	Template:Dts
8	Nigeria	Template:Dts
9	United Kingdom	Template:Dts
10	United States	Template:Dts
11	India	Template:Dts
12	Belgium	Template:Dts
13	Germany	Template:Dts
14	Guinea	Template:Dts
15	Sweden	Template:Dts
16	Benin	Template:Dts
17	Burkina Faso	Template:Dts
18	Ivory Coast	Template:Dts
19	Niger	Template:Dts
20	Pakistan	Template:Dts
21	Russia	Template:Dts
22	Netherlands	Template:Dts
23	Switzerland	Template:Dts
24	Liberia	Template:Dts
25	South Korea	Template:Dts
26	Sudan	Template:Dts
27	Bulgaria	Template:Dts
28	Senegal	Template:Dts
29	Poland	Template:Dts
30	Italy	Template:Dts
31	Mali	Template:Dts
32	Czech Republic	Template:Dts
33	Serbia	Template:Dts
34	Morocco	Template:Dts
35	Romania	Template:Dts
36	Spain	Template:Dts
37	Syria	Template:Dts
38	Madagascar	Template:Dts
39	Gambia	Template:Dts
40	Jamaica	Template:Dts
41	Ethiopia	Template:Dts
42	Lesotho	Template:Dts
43	Hungary	Template:Dts
44	Norway	Template:Dts
45	Luxembourg	Template:Dts
46	Turkey	Template:Dts
47	Zambia	Template:Dts
48	China	Template:Dts
49	North Korea	Template:Dts
50	Mauritania	Template:Dts
51	Tanzania	Template:Dts
52	Algeria	Template:Dts
53	Cuba	Template:Dts
54	Saudi Arabia	Template:Dts
55	Denmark	Template:Dts
56	Uganda	Template:Dts
57	Brazil	Template:Dts
58	Argentina	Template:Dts
59	Guyana	Template:Dts
60	Democratic Republic of the Congo	Template:Dts
61	Guinea-Bissau	Template:Dts
62	Portugal	Template:Dts
63	Austria	Template:Dts
64	Trinidad and Tobago	Template:Dts
65	Libya	Template:Dts
66	Bangladesh	Template:Dts
67	Mozambique	Template:Dts
68	Mexico	Template:Dts
69	Albania	Template:Dts
70	Cameroon	Template:Dts
71	Cape Verde	Template:Dts
72	Vietnam	Template:Dts
73	Kenya	Template:Dts
74	Greece	Template:Dts
75	Kuwait	Template:Dts
76	Qatar	Template:Dts
77	Australia
78	Iraq	Template:Dts
79	United Arab Emirates	Template:Dts
80	Oman	Template:Dts
81	Thailand	Template:Dts
82	Iran	Template:Dts
83	Equatorial Guinea	Template:Dts
84	Maldives	Template:Dts
85	Colombia	Template:Dts
86	Peru	Template:Dts
—	Template:Country data State of Palestine	Template:Dts
87	Venezuela	Template:Dts
88	Malaysia	Template:Dts
89	Philippines	Template:Dts
90	Indonesia	Template:Dts
91	Azerbaijan	Template:Dts
92	Brunei	Template:Dts
93	Slovakia	Template:Dts
—	Holy See	Template:Dts
94	Template:Country data Georgia	Template:Dts
95	Template:Country data North Macedonia	Template:Dts
96	South Africa	Template:Dts
97	Ukraine	Template:Dts
98	Ireland	Template:Dts
99	Cyprus	Template:Dts
100	Malta	Template:Dts
101	Namibia	Template:Dts
102	Croatia	Template:Dts
103	Belarus	Template:Dts
104	Armenia	Template:Dts
105	Angola	Template:Dts
106	Bahamas	Template:Dts
107	Iceland	Template:Dts
108	Finland	Template:Dts
109	New Zealand	Template:Dts
110	Uruguay	Template:Dts
111	Cambodia	Template:Dts
112	Estonia	Template:Dts
113	Slovenia	Template:Dts
114	Zimbabwe	Template:Dts
115	Jordan	Template:Dts
116	Singapore	Template:Dts
117	Mongolia	Template:Dts
118	Sri Lanka	Template:Dts
119	Rwanda	Template:Dts
120	Lithuania	Template:Dts
121	Montenegro	Template:Dts
122	Kazakhstan	Template:Dts
123	Latvia	Template:Dts
124	Fiji	Template:Dts
125	Ecuador	Template:Dts
126	Botswana	Template:Dts
127	Bosnia and Herzegovina	Template:Dts
—	Kosovo (suspended)	Template:Dts
128	Burundi	Template:Dts
129	Malawi	Template:Dts
130	Kyrgyzstan	Template:Dts
131	Turkmenistan	Template:Dts
132	Nicaragua	Template:Dts
133	Tajikistan	Template:Dts
134	Chad	Template:Dts
135	Grenada	Template:Dts
136	Nepal	Template:Dts
137	Belize	Template:Dts
138	Bahrain	Template:Dts
139	Moldova	Template:Dts
140	Dominican Republic	Template:Dts
141	Saint Vincent and the Grenadines	Template:Dts
142	Uzbekistan	Template:Dts
143	El Salvador	Template:Dts
144	Saint Lucia	Template:Dts
145	Seychelles	Template:Dts
146	Dominica	Template:DTS
147	Gabon	Unknown
—	Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic	Unknown
148	Togo	Unknown
149	Tunisia	Unknown
150	Yemen	Unknown

Bilateral relations

Country	Formal Relations Began	Notes
Canada	27 April 1961	See Canada–Sierra Leone relations Both countries established diplomatic relations on 27 April 1961.
China	29 July 1971	See China–Sierra Leone relations China and Sierra Leone established diplomatic relations on July 29, 1971.
Germany	5 September 1961	See Germany–Sierra Leone relations Both countries established diplomatic relations on 5 September 1961. Germany has an embassy in Freetown. Sierra Leone has an embassy in Berlin.
India	28 April 1961	Both countries established diplomatic relations on 28 April 1961 See India–Sierra Leone relations Sierra Leone's ambassador is accredited from Tehran and India established a resident High Commission in Freetown in 2021, having previously accrerdited its High Commissioner from Accra, Ghana. Both countries are full members of the Commonwealth of Nations.
Indonesia	15 November 1994	Both countries established diplomatic relations on 15 November 1994 Sierra Leone is accredited to Indonesia through its embassy in Seoul, South Korea. Indonesia is accredited to Sierra Leone, through its embassy in Dakar, Senegal.
Liberia	8 June 1962	See Liberia–Sierra Leone relations Both countries established diplomatic relations on 8 June 1962 when has been appointed first ambassador of Liberia to Sierra Leone Mr. Henry B. Fahnbulleh. The two countries signed a non-aggression pact in 2007 when Sierra Leonean President Ernest Bai Koroma took office. In January 2011, an African diplomat described relations as "cordial".
Mexico	30 June 1976	Both countries established diplomatic relations on 30 June 1976 Mexico is accredited to Sierra Leone from its embassy in Accra, Ghana. Sierra Leone does not have an accreditation to Mexico.
Turkey	15 February 1971	Both countries established diplomatic relations on 15 February 1971 Sierra Leone has an embassy in Ankara. Turkey has an embassy in Freetown. Trade volume between the two countries was 53.4 million USD in 2019. There are direct flights from Istanbul to Freetown.
United Kingdom	27 April 1961	See Foreign relations of the United Kingdom Sierra Leone established diplomatic relations with the United Kingdom in April 1961. Sierra Leone maintains a high commission in London. The United Kingdom is accredited to Sierra Leone through its high commission in Freetown. Both countries share common membership of the Atlantic co-operation pact, the Commonwealth, the International Criminal Court, and the World Trade Organization. Bilaterally the two countries have an Investment Agreement.
United States	27 April 1961	Both countries established diplomatic relations on 27 April 1961 See Sierra Leone–United States relations File:Embassy of Sierra Leone.JPG Embassy of Sierra Leone in Washington, D.C. U.S. relations with Sierra Leone began with missionary activities in the 19th century. In 1959, the U.S. opened a consulate in Freetown and elevated it to embassy status when Sierra Leone became independent in 1961. U.S.-Sierra Leone relations today are cordial, with ethnic ties between groups in the two countries receiving increasing historical interest. Many thousands of Sierra Leoneans reside in the United States. In fiscal year 2006, total U.S. bilateral aid to Sierra Leone in all categories were $29.538 million. U.S. assistance focused on the consolidation of peace, democracy and human rights, health education, particularly combating HIV/AIDS, and human resources development. Currently, the Principal U.S. Official in Sierra Leone is Chargé d'Affaires Glenn Fedzer Sierra Leone's Ambassador to the U.S. is H. E. Bockari Kortu Stevens and the Sierra Leone embassy is located in Washington.

See also

• List of diplomatic missions in Sierra Leone
• List of diplomatic missions of Sierra Leone

External links

• United Nations Integrated Office in Sierra Leone
• "Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation at the Sierra Leone Encyclopedia 2006"